A Day in the Life in Turkmenistan

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

The dictionary definition of dystopia is as follows: an imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degradedone.

Based on what we have learned about the leader, Niyazov, living conditions, and typical daily life in Turkmenistan, we have concluded that is indeed, a dystopia

The previous leader, Niyazov was a strong totalitarian leader. He forced his rules and decrees on his people, while they suffered. I don't know any other leader who would spend $12 million on a golden statue, while his people suffered in poverty.

Nothing in Turkmenistans seems to have anything positive for it, except for their huge amounts of oil. Schools, jobs, and homes are all run down and poorly kept for, because of the finical situation of the country.

Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov was sworn in as president of Turkmenistan on February 14th, 2007. When he first became president he to follow the ways of his predecessor but correspondents have suggested that some of his early reforms and proposals appeared to contradict Niyazov's decrees. Accomplishments he has made as president include:

In March 2007, President Berdymukhamedov reversed one of his predecessor's most unpopular decisions by restoring pensions to more than 100,000 elderly citizens

In May 2007 he signed a landmark deal with Russia, ensuring that most of Turkmenistan's gas supplies would flow through Russia, which went US and EU proposals for a pipe to be built under the Caspian Sea, avoiding Russian control.

He has also overseen attempts to attract greater numbers of tourists to Turkmenistan which include the building of a multi-billion dollar tourist resort on the Caspian Sea.

Niyazov made sure that his book, Ruhnama was seen and read by everyone.

One example is here inwhich the citizens hold marches in which they are very proud of their leader

In this example, the leaders face is imprinted upon beer bottles, reminding citizens that where ever they go, the leader is there for them. This action also promotes the leader.

Today, this propaganda prizes mainly the achievements of the new president, Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedow, or quotes what he's said. "Döwlet adam üçindir!" (on the left side of the photo) is a famous citation of Berdymuhamedow meaning "The state is there for the people".